SIX trucks of fodder and truckloads full of water were brought into Graaff-Reinet on Tuesday by Gift of the Givers.
The humanitarian organisation consulted with local farmers earlier this month to learn first-hand what the effect of the drought had been on agriculture in the area.
A total of 71 commercial and emerging farmers benefited from the fodder and animal drinking water intervention.
“This drought does not discriminate between small or big farmers,” said Dave Stern, chairman of the Sneeuberg Farmers Union.
“Even though today’s intervention can only cover the tip of the iceberg, we are extremely thankful for and touched by the helping hand extended by the Gift of the Givers.”
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the GOTG foundation, attended the intervention on Tuesday.
“Farming is the mainstay of South Africa’s economy,” Sooliman told Komani-Karoo Express.
“If farms collapse, farm workers lose their jobs. Each farm worker provides for seven people.
“The impact on rural towns becomes huge as buying power decreases and small rural economies collapse.
“People lose hope, and social problems of crime and drinking increase in low-income communities. Within the higher income communities, the huge losses have resulted in many suicides, leaving wives and children to deal with the enormous challenges.
“By getting involved, Gift of the Givers is sending a message to the South African government, corporates and the public, that we can temporarily intervene, provide water, fodder and food parcels until the situation reverses. A lot can be done to save farms, increase productivity and agricultural job opportunities, and export earnings.”
While GOTG is already involved in Graaff-Reinet, Adelaide, Bedford, Makhanda and Komani, Sooliman says urgent intervention is also needed in Butterworth, and the organisation continues to receive requests for help from many other areas.
“However, we urgently need support from the public,” Sooliman said.
“If any farmer can provide fodder, if any transport company can provide transport, if fuel companies can provide fuel, if food companies can provide food aid, if bottling companies can provide bottled water, all at no cost, and if large corporates and high net worth individuals can finance the drilling of boreholes, we will go a long way in making a huge difference to suffering communities.
“The ordinary public can support all of the above in a very simple manner by visiting any Checkers/ Shoprite store and donating R5 or more to the Gift of the Givers Drought initiative. 100% of those funds come to us, and enable us to fight off the hardships and heartbreak caused by this unprecedented drought in the history of South Africa,” Sooliman said.
On Monday, Dr Gideon Groenewald and the GOTG drilling team drilled the eighth borehole since their arrival in Graaff-Reinet two weeks ago. “One more borehole will be drilled at Isibane Primary school this week, but we actually short six more. A lot more can be done to help the town, but unfortunately our budget for Graaff-Reinet is now depleted and without it our hands are tied,” Groenewald told Komani-Karoo Express yesterday.
